Maria Kakoullis
Senior Operations Leader | Driving Innovation & Excellence in Financial Services Operations | Strategic Problem-Solving
- Role
- Director - Business Support Manager - Private Wealth, Instutional & International at Merrill Lynch
- Location
- New York, NY, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Maria Kakoullis
I am a strategic leader in digital adoption and operational excellence with a proven track record of streamlining processes, enhancing engagement, and driving high-impact initiatives. I specialize in solving complex challenges, ensuring seamless technology adoption, and empowering teams with tools that maximize productivity.Serving currently as Director of Digital Adoption & Client Experience at Merrill Lynch, I lead field engagement and communications for the digital onboarding system, partnering with technology teams to enhance usability and accelerate adoption. Additionally, through strategic listening sessions and data-driven decision-making, I translate user feedback into actionable improvements, ensuring our technology aligns with business needs and delivers measurable value. Beginning my career in 2008, one of the most turbulent times in the industry’s recent history, I established a reputation early on for constancy and problem solving. In the years since, I’ve become expert in process optimization and solution building, leveraging those strengths to drive automation, eliminating inefficiencies, and achieve significant cost savings. Whether managing thousands of system inquiries or leading change initiatives, I take pride in making complex systems more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly. Areas of Expertise Operational Efficiency & Process Improvement Change Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration Strategic Communication & Stakeholder Engagement Key Achievements Led a nationwide system rollout, affecting double-digit increases in user adoption and account openings. Conducted 50+ listening sessions nationwide to drive platform improvements and enhance user experience. Played integral role in workstation upgrade for Merrill advisor teams and management. Transformed internal reporting by creating an impactful tracking tool that was ultimately adopted widely. Recognized for top performance, earning invitations to leadership councils and mentoring future leaders.I thrive in fast-paced, dynamic, highly regulated environments where I can translate strategy into execution, bridge cross-functional gaps, and drive meaningful innovation. As I continue evolving, I aim to expand my leadership impact to further influence operational excellence at scale.
Experience
Director - Business Support Manager - Private Wealth, Instutional & International
Aug 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US
Education
City University of New York-Queens College
Bachelor of Business Administration
Saint John's University - Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Master of Business Administration
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